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Walking through the front doors of CrossFit Mesa in Arizona, one theme becomes very apparent with this gym… Patriotism.

Amongst the smell of sweat and the sounds of barbells being dropped on the ground; a giant US flag overlooks the gym, surrounded by other flags representing each and every branch of the military.

CrossFit Mesa owners Craig Shumway and AJ Richards, who also happen to be employees of Bulwark Exterminating, have added a patriotic memorial in the front of their gym. A Legacy Desk adorns the gym’s entryway; paying tribute to so many that have lost their lives serving our Country.

The Legacy Desk

The Crossfit Mesa family has found an incredible and humbling way to pay tribute to all those heroes who have so nobly and honorably paid the ultimate sacrifice; losing their lives in Operation Enduring Freedom.

A Legacy Desk has been unveiled inside the CrossFit Mesa gym; with steel caging holding some 6,954 rocks. Each rock has a name written on it; all the names of‪ each ‎soldier, ‎marine, ‎airman, ‎sailor and American warrior killed in action during Operation Enduring Freedom. The rocks have been carefully placed inside the desk framing for all to see.

Additional rocks have been added to remember some of our brothers and sisters who have chosen to end their life early due to the invisible wounds of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.

May their memories and sacrifice live on as legends of our time.

Pat Tillman Rock

Included in the Legacy Desk’s almost 7000 symbolic rocks, is a rock for Pat Tillman. Tillman was an Army ranger who left a lucrative professional football career to serve his Country in Iraq and Afghanistan. As an Arizona State alum and football player, as well as an Arizona Cardinals football player, Tillman is held in extremely high regard in the state of Arizona especially. Tillman lost his life while serving his country. His rock is very visible at the front of the desk upon viewing.

Origins Of The Legacy Desk

The Legacy Desk is the brain-child of CrossFit Mesa co-owner AJ Richards, who served a couple tours ofIraqhimself; losing fellow brothers and sisters in arms in which he knew personally. The desk itself is built by CrossFit Mesa member Dustin Bradford, who put many hours of labor into it making it.

The Legacy Desk was unveiled on Memorial Day 2015, with over 100 CrossFit members along with their friends and family people on-hand to see it up close. Following the desk’s introduction, all those in attendance participated in the Murph Hero WOD, which entails 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, and 300 squats sandwiched between two one mile runs. The workout is done every year in memory of veterans who have given their life.

The Legacy Desk & PTSD

While CrossFit Mesa’s Legacy Desk solemnly and symbolically expresses all the lives lost in battle during Operation Enduring Freedom, it also symbolically expresses some of our brothers and sisters who have chosen to end their life early due to the invisible wounds of PTSD; as over 50 rocks have been added by members of the gym by those who have lost loved ones due to the affects of PTSD.

CrossFit Mesa founder AJ Richards has been very candid about his struggles with PTSD; as a nIraq war Veteran encountering a Tannerite bomb. AJ works to raise public awareness about the impacts of PTSD.

According to the 2012 Suicide Data Report, the VA estimates that 22 veterans a day have committed suicide from 1999 to 2011. This is a deeply troubling statistic and has galvanized a veteran movement to raise public awareness about PTSD.

CrossFit Mesa is currently adding more names and rocks to the Legacy Desks through social media submissions. If you are interested in adding a rock to the Legacy Desk in honor of someone you love, Tweet them at @CrossFitMesa or visit their Facebook page.

Extraordinary Courage- Paying the Ultimate Sacrifice

All of us here at Bulwark Exterminating believe that this Legacy Desk memorial has given authentic meaning to all the men and women which paid the ultimate sacrifice for all of us.

We are truly indebted to all those service men and women who have put their lives on the line to help protect our freedom, liberties, and these United States.

We live in the greatest country in the world; the land of the free because of the brave. Only real heroes can do what you do.

To all those who serve our country, THANK YOU for your unselfish efforts! We salute you!

May all who are connected to the names on the desk’s rocks have peace.

If you’d like to see the Legacy Desk memorial for yourself, visit CrossFit Mesa:

We all know how disgusting and traumatic bed bugs can be. They cause anxiety, panic and can be extremely difficult to get rid of. They seem to infect every corner of the Earth and love a good trip. The key to never getting bed bugs is understanding how to search, identify and prevent them. This bed bug prevention guide provided by Bed Bug Force NYC illustrates some of the basic precautions to take when traveling and how to handle your luggage upon arrival at hotels and when you're coming home.

Identifying Bed Bugs

Obviously, to be able to prevent bed bugs you need to know what they look like and how to identify them. The main ways to identify if there is a bed bug problem is by looking around the bed and mattress seams for black specks that seem to resemble pepper flakes. These are bed bug feces and are a sure sign that there is a bed bug presence. Bed bugs themselves are rather flat with a slight elliptical shape to them with a reddish-brown color. They are usually no bigger than an apple seed in size.

Preparation When Traveling

There are some basic things you should do before embarking on your trip like:

Pack a flashlight - You'll need one to inspect for bed bugs in your hotel room and around the bed where you plan on sleeping.

Use a hardshell or collapsible suitcase - Hardshells usually are easy to clean and don't have seams where bed bugs can hide. If a hard-shell isn't possible than a collapsible type suitcase is another option as these can be washed easily upon arriving home.

Bring a plastic bag (optional) - If you want to be extra careful, bring a large garbage bag to put your suitcase in during your trip. This will make it even more difficult for bed bugs to get into your luggage.

Read reviews carefully - Of course doing your due diligence on any place you plan on staying in is paramount. Any reviews that mention bed bugs should be taken seriously. Avoid any place with reviews mentioning bed bugs at any point during the establishment's history, even if the review is old.

Inspecting for Bed Bugs

Upon arriving at your hotel, hostel or wherever you're staying immediately put your luggage in a bathroom during the inspection process. Bathrooms are much safer to store your luggage in since they are usually full of slippery surfaces and tiles that bed bugs do not like. This will give you some time to inspect your room thoroughly before bringing your luggage into the actual hotel room main area.

Check All Areas of Your Room

You'll want to be as thorough as possible with your inspection of your room. Areas you'll want to check are:

Head boards

Box frames

Night stands

Book shelves

Mattress pleats

Curtain pleats

Sheets and pillows

Any items that have small crevices and crannies (like alarm clocks)

Keep Luggage Off the Ground

Once you've determined that room is clear, you can bring your luggage out from the bathroom into your room. Even though you may think that you are clear if you didn't see anything during your inspection, you still want to be careful. Keep all of your luggage off of the floors, preferably on a desk or table that can't easily be climbed up on from the ground.

Inspecting Rental Cars for Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are hitchhikers and they love to travel. That means that they can also end up in rental cars and get into any items you may have stored in the trunk or inside the car. After picking up your rental, do a quick sweep of the trunk, inside and tire areas to ensure there are no bed bugs hiding out in the rental. Check under spare tires as well for any remnants of past or present bed bug infestations.

Coming Home

Never assume that you came home bed-bug free. It's always best to assume that you DID come home with bed bugs and get in the habit of handling your items as such upon arriving home. Some basic things to do when you're coming home from your trip include:

Wash all your clothing in hot water. Even the clothing you didn't wear. - If any bed bugs slipped in during any point of your trip, they will be killed during the wash.

Inspect Your Luggage Outside Your Home

Before bringing your luggage into your home, do a thorough inspection outside with a flashlight and a keen eye. The last thing you want to do is bring a single bed bug into your home from not checking your luggage thoroughly. You'll want to inspect all necessary parts of your suitcase where bed bugs may be hiding such as:

Seams and folds in your suitcase

Zipper pockets

Outside edges or crannies

Staying Alert

After following these basic steps and educating yourself on how to identify bed bugs and prevent them, you'll be able to travel the world and have peace of mind knowing that your chances of bringing bed bugs home with you are very slim. Staying alert and being diligent in your efforts will ensure you have many safe travels that are free of bed bugs. Check out the infographic below that helps illustrate the bed bug prevention process. And of course for any bed bug related situations be sure to talk to an expert at Bulwark Exterminating for possible bed bug treatment options.

WWOOFers, as they are referred to, will spend around half a day learning about and working sustainable agriculture, leaving the remainder of the day free to see the local sights of the area.

Participants in the program must be at least 18 years or older, and purchase a valid membership that runs $40.00. Membership will give volunteers access to the 2069 farms currently participating in the WWOOF program.

What’s The Catch?

If you are a traveler who is looking to see the country, and save some serious money in the process, then a farm stay vacation may be what you’re looking for. Keep in mind that your room and board on the farm is a two-way transaction. You will be required to put some time in on the farm; the amount being determined by each participating host farm. Typically, a half day of work is what most host farms require.

You may be asked to pick vegetables, work with animals, tend to honeybees, bail hay, irrigate crops, milk cows, or even make wine. Essentially, you’ll be doing farm chores. The type of work you do is entirely dependent on the host farm you elect to stay at and their particular needs at that time.

When selecting a host farm to stay and work at, it’s imperative that you look carefully though the information listed for each farm; and make sure to check with the owners beforehand exactly how much time each day you will be expected to contribute. Please keep in mind that staying at a host farm is considered compensation for the work you do, and no additional monetary compensation will be offered.

Benefits

WWOOFing is a way to learn practical farming skills, be part of the organic agriculture movement, and experience the heart of American agrarian culture; all while getting a serious vacation discount. If you are looking to bring children along, it’s also a great way to teach them the value of hard work while still having some fun along the way.

Notable U.S. Farm Locales

There are currently 2069 farms participating in the farm stay program in the United States alone. If you have your heart set on vacationing somewhere in particular, chances are there is a participating farm near your desired destination. Here are just a few notable U.S. farm locales in which you can stay:

US Virgin Islands

Puerto Rico

O’ahu, Hawaii

Coffman Cove, Alaska

Durango, Colorado

San Diego, California

New York City, New York

Merritt Island, Florida

Miami, FL

New Orleans, LA

San Francisco,California

Selecting Your Vacation Location

Unless you have a predetermined destination in mind for your farm excursion, the process of selecting among the 2069 farms that participate in the program can be pretty daunting. Fortunately, the WWOOF program lets interested party select farms based on their own specific criteria and desires. These include:

Duration of Visit. Stay at a farm for just one day, or long term. Most farms have opportunities that are only a week or two in duration, but there are some that let participants stay for one month, two or three months, or even longer.

Number of Visitors. How many people are you bringing with you? Some farms can accommodate large families or groups, other cannot.

Type of Farm. Choose among dairy, garden, vegetable, livestock, vineyard, orchard, and homestead farms. Consider the type of work you might be required to do; be it picking grapes or helping milk cows.

Food. Select from farms that feed you vegan, vegetarian or traditional cuisine. Most farms serve breakfast; the available other meals depend on how the farm operates.

Lodging. Are you interested in sleeping in bedroom in the farmers home, a separate structure all together, a tent, or an RV?

Pets and Kids. Some farms will not let you bring your rugrats, or Fido. Make sure you check before booking your farm excursion.

Other Noteworthy Farm Vacation Programs

In addition to WWOOF, there are also a couple other programs that are participating in the farm stay program. Workaway.info and helpx.net are also sites that list host farms or farmstays that are looking for short-term volunteers in exchange for food and accommodation.

Final Word

If you are the adventurous type who wants a first hand farm experience; someone who wants to be a part of something bigger in the organic agriculture movement; someone who likes to work hard and play hard, then the staying at a host farm while vacationing is for you. You can save some serious dough and see these United States, or even the World, for a lot less.

If you are the vacationer that wants to separate work from pleasure, and wants to refrain from getting your hands dirty while on vacation; staying at a host farm my not be in your best interest.

A few of us here at Bulwark Exterminating think this is an awesome opportunity; so much so that we’re currently looking at a local farm here in Arizona that we’re going to do a one night stay at with our families. We’ll let you know how it goes!

As a homeowner, a termite infestation is one of your biggest fears. If it’s not, it should be. Termites cause more damage to homes in the United States than fires and storms combined. Even a small colony of termites can severely compromise the integrity of a home in just a short amount of time.

At the first signs of a termite infestation, there are a few things that you should and shouldn’t do to limit the damage these destructive pests can do to your home.

As a homeowner, here’s what to DO and what NOT to do after you discover termites in your home:

What To Do When You Discover Termites In Your Home

When dealing with termites, reduce the amount of moisture around your house. Moisture attracts termites. Check for malfunctioning taps and gutters and have them corrected. Create proper ventilation in areas of the house where moisture is likely to develop.

Look for any cracks on wooden structures and seal them. This will prevent termites from entering into the wood through the crack.

Another option is to fill in the gaps or cracks with sand, as termites cannot build colonies where there is fine sand.

While replacing compromised wooden structures, switch them out for juniper, cedar and redwood, as termites prefer them least.

There is a chance of termites returning years later. Conduct yearly termite home inspections to any problems at an early stage.

What NOT To Do When You Discover Termites In Your Home

When you discover a colony of termites on the perimeter of your home, it is best to leave the colony alone. Disturbing the colony may drive them even closer, perhaps into your home.

Don’t attempt to exterminate a termite colony on your own, as some chemicals can be hazardous to humans, plants and pets; as can inexperience handling the chemicals.

Don’t use mulch around the house. It is a great a source of food and water for termites. Elect instead for rubber mulches, as an alternative to the wooden variety.

Do not store lumber or waste on your property. This will only attract termites.

Bulwark Exterminating Termite Solutions

At first sign of a termite infestation, it’s best you call a professional; and not just any professional. You want a licensed professional that has years of expertise dealing with these destructive pests. You want a company that offers excellent customer service, and can schedule inspections and services around your busy schedule. You want Bulwark Exterminating and our professional termite solution.

Your home is one of your biggest investments. Don’t leave its protection to just anybody. Leave it to the preferred termite control professionals who are highly trained in all the leading termite pest control methods; the professionals that can provide all the best pest control options including baits, liquid baits, liquids, and monitoring stations.

This week the NCAA basketball tournament gets underway, and over the next month the nation will be glued to their television sets; rooting for their alma-matters and cheering on the next 11-seed Cinderella as they advance to the sweet sixteen by taking down one of the big boys.

With March Madness in the air, us bug guys at Bulwark Exterminating thought we’d have a little fun by fielding a team of bug all-stars!

Just take a look at our all-star bug picks:

While the thought of fielding a team of Hakeem oSpiderwon, Tim dScorpion and Rajon Roacho is an amusing venture, there’s nothing amusing about having pests like spiders, scorpions, or roaches in your home!

If you are seeing pests of any kind in your home, call the pest control professionals at Bulwark Exterminating!